Big Talk About Small Business

Ever thought a urinal in your home could be a game changer? We kick off this episode of Big Talk About Small Business with some hilarious personal anecdotes about aging and unique home features that will leave you laughing out loud. But we quickly switch gears to tackle a serious and highly relevant topic for all small business owners: the strategic use of debt. Discover why debt isn't the villain it's often made out to b...

Curious about how to thrive in a mature market? Join us as we sit down with Matt Lewis, the fourth-generation owner-manager of Lewis Automotive Group, who shares his secrets for business differentiation and success in a competitive industry. From prioritizing employee well-being to ensuring exceptional customer service, Matt reveals how a positive work environment can lead to long-term customer loyalty and business success. Discove...

What if we told you that the constant stress and unpredictability of running a small business could be managed with real, actionable advice from those who've been through it? Learn how to tackle the most daunting tasks first and see why expensive success formulas are often just myths. We debunk the illusion that other businesses have it all figured out and provide you with the reassurance that there's no one-size-fits-all...

Discover the remarkable story of Connie, whose journey from Castle Rock, Colorado, to becoming an entrepreneurial force is nothing short of inspiring. Learn how early experiences working in her family's small businesses and a move to Arkansas set the foundation for a career that saw her rise from a secretary at Tyson Foods to managing major business accounts. Connie shares the pivotal moments that defined her path, the challen...

What if your career took you from banking to HVAC contracting to the music industry and then into the world of shopper marketing? Join us for an exciting episode of "Big Talk About Small Business" as we welcome Matt Woolley, the founder and CEO of DesignSteins. Matt shares the fascinating story behind his company's name, the hurdles they overcame in their early days, and their innovative approach to services like bra...

Can you imagine turning a childhood hobby into a thriving business empire? Join us in this captivating episode as we chat with Michael Lebhar, a top seller on Walmart, who started his entrepreneurial journey with simple lawn mowing and car washing gigs. Michael’s story is a testament to how early ventures in high school selling fitness products on eBay and Amazon can lead to dominating less competitive marketplaces like Walmart. Di...

Ever wondered why your business hits a slump every summer or spikes erratically around the holidays? Discover how to master the ebb and flow of seasonal cycles to keep your operations running smoothly year-round. We share firsthand experiences and actionable strategies to help you navigate these predictable yet challenging periods, ensuring your business remains resilient and thriving. From the impact of travel schedules on product...

Embark on an entrepreneurial odyssey with us as Josh Saffran, a trailblazer in franchise ownership, reveals the alchemy of fusing visionary leadership with grounded, actionable steps. Recalling the electric launch of The Gents Place, we weave tales of community support and the impetus behind the brand's inception. Through candid banter, Josh and Eric unpack the importance of networking—especially for young go-getters—and the a...

Ever wondered how to craft a brand that sticks in the minds of your niche audience? Strap in and join Eric Howerton and Mark Zweig as have their first show in our newly minted podcast video studio, a tech wonderland designed to pump life into your content creation dreams. From the simplicity of solo pods to the robust offerings of branding and analytics, they will reveal the secrets to making your brand unforgettable and your conte...

Curious about how a chance meeting at a party can turn into a thriving business and life partnership? Join us as we sit down with Jodie Spears and Glenn Buercklin, the creators of the Couples Inc Podcast and founders of Living Pink. Jodie shares her deeply personal journey through breast cancer and how it inspired the birth of their marketing consulting firm. With stories from her early days in AM radio to the heartfelt moments tha...

What if your unique skill set could align perfectly with a transformative project? 
Join Eric and Mark as Tanner Bassett, a serial entrepreneur with a background in landscape architecture, shares his compelling journey from design firms to becoming an integral part of a significant wetland construction project for Northwest Health in Bentonville. Tanner’s story reveals how his landscape architecture degree, hospital campus mast...

Curious about the secret sauce behind effective project management and team alignment? Join us for an enlightening conversation with JS, an industry veteran who has revolutionized workflows at multiple companies. Discover how JS tackled his new role by systematically organizing and prioritizing numerous development projects, transforming chaos into streamlined success. Hear his firsthand account of turning a wall of post-it notes i...

Ever wondered how a thriving chemical engineering student ends up becoming a leadership guru? In our latest episode of "Big Talk About Small Business," we bring you the fascinating career journey of Chuck Hyde. From his early days in the petrochemical industry to his critical roles at Kimberly Clark and ultimately finding his calling as a management consultant, Chuck shares invaluable lessons and anecdotes that shaped his...

Discover the heartwarming journey of Sy Kirby and the legacy behind his earthwork company, Sy-Con. We promise you'll walk away with practical insights on overcoming industry resistance to technological change and building a forward-thinking team. Join us as Sy shares how embracing innovation like GPS technology has given his company a competitive edge in the construction industry, addressing generational shifts and evolving bu...

Want to turn a high school side hustle into a six-figure business? Join us on "Big Talk About Small Business" as we chat with Jacob Rhea, a recent college graduate who’s projecting $150,000 to $200,000 in profit from his online reselling empire. Jacob reveals his disciplined approach to financial management, including savvy strategies like reinvesting profits into the stock market and setting up a solo 401k. This episode ...

Welcome to a new series here on Big Talk About Small Business: the Quick Talk Special. In this special series, we aim to bring you bite-sized segments from some of our most impactful past episodes. Our goal is to highlight the incredible stories, valuable insights, and key lessons that our show has featured, all in a more condensed and accessible format.

Whether you're a busy entrepreneur on the go or someone looking for quick ...

Prepare yourself to be armed with strategies that will propel your business forward as Mark Zweig engages with the incredible Matt Lewis from Lewis Automotive Group in a revelatory conversation about business growth, leadership, and employee incentives. They're cutting through the noise to bring you an episode packed with the essentials of managing a large workforce, fostering an environment that amplifies both employee satisf...

Get ready to unlock the core of business longevity as the guys reveal the secret ingredient that's even more crucial than intelligence or capital—discipline. Hosts Mark Zweig and Eric Howerton dissect how discipline fuels success and why an abundance of funding can sometimes be a business's downfall. Prepare yourself for a compelling ride through the landscape of consistent, daily action, as they underscore that the real ...

Embark on a journey with Ryan Markewich, the entrepreneurial wizard behind Creative Roots, as he lays out the map for business success through transparency and employee empowerment. With the spirit of the Great Game of Business at our conversation's core, Ryan's story unfolds from the seeds of a modest lawn care service to a thriving landscape of ownership and engagement. As we traverse the landscapes of business growth a...